Leaf-holding means for drop-leaf tables



April 3, 1956 B. F. HAMILTON 2,740,580

LEAF-HOLDING MEANS FOR DROP-LEAF TABLES Filed Jan. 8, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 550 n: [Wan/4 row, a N

April 3, 1956 B. F. HAMILTON 2,740,680

LEAF-HOLDING MEANS FOR DROP-LEAF TABLES Filed Jan. 8. 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 54 3; H148 MI 34 32 J 15 jg INVENTOR. @5227: fflnM/z ran;

United States PatentO LEAF-HOLDIN G MEANS FOR DROP-LEAF TABLES Bert'isF. Hamilton, Columbus, Ind.; William S. Hamilton, executor of saidBertis F. Hamilton, deceased, assignor to Hamilton ManufacturingCorporation, Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana ApplicationJanuary 8, 1953, Serial No. 330,187

6 Claims. (Cl. 311-65) This invention relates to drop-leaf tables, andhas for its. object the provision of such a table which can be simplyand economically manufactured, which will have an attractive appearance,and whose leaves will be sturdy and rigid when extended into horizontalposition. Other objects will be apparent as the description isunderstood.

In carrying out my invention in its preferred embodiment, I provide thetable with a sheet-metal top having a down turned peripheral flange. Apair of channel members are secured against the lower surface of thetop, parallel to the direction of table extension. The legs for thetable are formed in side pairs, conveniently of metal tubing, each pairhaving the general shape of an inverted U whose intermediate portion isadditionally useful as a push-bar for the table. The legs are secured tothe table top and to a bracing ring or shelf vertically spacedtherefrom.

The drop-leaves are of the same general construction as the table top,and are rotatively attached thereto by hinges Whose interengagingportions are carried respec tively by the aligned channel members of thetable top and of the drop leaves. The leaves are braced by an arm havingone end rotatively supported by the leg at a point spaced below thehinge and the other end riding in an elongated slot of the drop leafchannel member. At

the inner end of the slot, the slot is formed with a portion inclineddownwardly and outwardly so that the upper edge of the slot extensionserves as a sturdy abutment against which the brace arm may bear to holdthe drop leaf at its elevated position. Desirably, the bracearms at bothsides of each drop-leaf are made from a continuous lengtth of stock.Springs carried by the chan nel members of the drop-leaves help urge thebrace-arms into the slot extensions and hold the brace-arms therein.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a table embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the table shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view of the under side of such a table,showing the means for holding the drop-leaf in elevated position; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the detail shown in Fig. 3.

The table shown in the drawings comprises a top 10, of generallyrectangular shape, having at its edges a downwardly extending peripheralflange 12. wh se bottom is turned inwardly to form a stiffening rim 13.Desirably, the top and its flange are formed as a one-piece metalstamping. Extending longitudinally of the table and beneath the top area pair of spaced reinforcing members 14 of channel cross-section havingthe ends of their flanges turned outwardly and secured to the flange 12as by means of rivets 16.

Table legs 18, conveniently of metal tubing, are formed in pairs, thelegs of each pair desirably being formed from a continuous length ofstock bent into an inverted U-shape, with the intermediate stretch 20 ofsuch stock both stiffening the table and serving as a push-bar for2,740,680 Patented Apr. 3, 1956 the table. Each pair of legs is securedto a side of the table as by a bolt 22 passing through each leg 18 andthe table-top flange 12. Vertically spaced from the top 10, the legs arejoined as by bolts 24 to a bracing ring or shelf 26. Desirably a caster28 is provided for each leg.

Each drop-leaf 30 is of the same general construction as the table topabove described, having a peripheral flange 32 with an in-turned rim 33,and channel members 34 longitudinally aligned with the table channels 14and secured to the drop-leaf as by rivets 36. As shown, hinge means 40whose interdigitating portions are formed from integral extensions ofthe webs of the channel members 14 and 34 pivotally connect the innerend of each leaf 30 to the table top 10.

Since both drop-leaves are desirably similar and since the brace meansassociated with the several legs are desirably the same, I shalldescribe the means for supporting only one leaf from one leg.

A swingable brace arm 42 for the drop leaf 30 is rotatably supported bythe leg 18, at a point spaced downwardly from the hinge means 40. Suchsupport is conveniently obtained by providing the brace arms at itslower end with a horizontal finger 44 which extends into an openingprovided in the leg, thus providing a horizontal brace-arm axisperpendicular to the direction of table-extension. The upper end of thebrace arm 42 is similarly provided with a horizontal finger 46 whichrides in a longitudinal slot 48 provided in the drop-leaf channel 34,the slot 48 being of sufficient length and so located longitudinallythat it will accommodate the brace-arm finger 46 throughout the entireswinging movement of the brace arm.

At its inner end, the slot 48 is provided with an oblique extension 50directed downwardly and outwardly, and the edge 52 of the channel wall34 which defines the upper and outer edge of such slot extension servesas a sturdy abutment against which the brace-arm finger 46 may bear tohold the drop leaf at its elevated position. Desirabiy, the downward andoutward disposition of this slot-extension 50 is such that when thedrop-leaf is in its horizontal position, the abutment 52 issubstantially perpendicular to an imaginary line drawn between suchabutment and the lower brace-finger 44; with the bracearm 42 formed as astraight link as shown, the abutment is substantially perpendicular tothe brace itself.

To eliminate movement of the brace-arms other than in a vertical plane,and for rigidity and ease of assembly, the brace arms at both sides ofeach drop-leaf are desirably parts of an integral U-shaped yoke theparallel legs of which constitute the brace-arms 42 and the intermediateleg 53 of which provides the fingers 46.

A spring 54 is carried by the drop-leaf to insure entrance of the yokeinto the slot extension, take up lostmotion caused by manufacturingtolerances and wear, and insure that the yoke will remain in the slotextension until it is desired that the drop-leaf be lowered. As shown,such spring 54 is carried within the drop-leaf channel 34 in such amanner that it extends longitudinally thereof, and lies low enoughtherein and at such a slope that it yieldingly both urges the yoke intothe slot extension 50 as above described and in addition continuouslybears against the yoke in any position of such yoke for a distanceoutwardly from such slot extension. This extended spring engagementthereby obtained gives, without undue resistance to drop-leaf elevation,a snaplike latching effect as the drop-leaf is elevated into horizontalposition. Conveniently, the spring 54 is formed of spring wire bent backon itself in a deep U-shape, to provide two parallel legs formed attheir inner ends with aligned, circular arc portions 56 which arethreaded 3 through holes in the web of the drop-leaf channel mem ber 34.

In elevation, each spring is so formed that with its closed or free endin contact with the under surface of the leaf 30 it will extendobliquely across the slot 48 and, at the slot-extension 50, attain aposition such that it will resiliently force the yoke against the end ofsuch slot extension. Desirably, there is one of the springs 54 in eachof the leaf-channels 34.

To bring a drop leaf of such a table into extended position, the userneed only grasp the leaf and swing it up wardly into horizontalposition. During such movement. the yoke-portion 46 rides relativelyinward on the lower edges of the slots 48, and in so doing stresses thesprings 54 to store energy therein. As the leaf becomes horizontal, theyoke overlies the slot extensions 50. and the springs 54 snap it intothose slot extensions to firmly hold the leaf in its elevated position.When it is desired to lower the leaf, the user needs only to pull theyoke-legs 42 upwardly to lift the yoke out of the slot extensions 50 andclear of the abutments 52; whereupon the leaf will drop to its vertical,retracted position. The disposition of the axis of each hinge 40relative to the opposed faces of the top and leaf flanges resilientlystresses the top and leaf when the leaf is extended and causes the leafto be urged downwardly to the limit permitted by the brace yoke, thustaking up lost motion and preventing rattling.

1 claim as my invention:

l. A drop-leaf table, comprising a sheet-metal table top and adrop-leaf, each of which has a depending peripheral flange, longitudinalsurface-reinforcing members carried by both said table top and saiddrop-leaf, hinge means formed by interdigitating integral extensions ofsaid longitudinal members, legs supporting said table top above thefloor, a leg-supported brace for holding said drop-leaf in elevatedposition, the longitudinal member of said drop-leaf having asubstantially horizontal ledge portion for guiding said brace therealongduring movement of said drop-leaf toward horizontal position. saidlongitudinal member at and from the inner end of said ledge beingprovided with an abutment extending therefrom and having an outward anddownward slope.

2. A drop-leaf construction for a table having supporting legs,comprising a leg-supported brace for holding said drop-leaf in elevatedposition, a longitudinal member carried by and beneath said drop-leafand having a substantially horizontal ledge portion for guiding saidbrace therealong during movement of said drop-leaf toward horizontalposition, said longitudinal member at and. from the inner end of saidledge being provided with an abutment extending outwardly and downwardlyand against which abutment said brace may bear to hold said drop-leaf inelevated position, said table and drop-leaf having resilientlydeformable means engageable upon the drop-leaf being swung upwardly intoextended position, thereby to urge more firm engagement of said braceand said abutment, and hinge means for pivotally attaching said dropleaf to said table, the axis of said hinge means being so located withrespect to said resilient means that stress is imparted to saidresilient means upon swinging said drop-leaf into extended position.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which one of said drop-leaf andsaid table comprises a metal sheet provided with a depending peripheralflange, said resilient means comprising a portion of said flange.

4. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the table and thedrop-leaf comprises a metal sheet provided with a depending peripheralflange, said resilient means comprising portions of said drop-leaf andtable flanges juxtaposed when said drop-leaf is extended.

5. A drop-leaf table comprising a sheet-metal top and a sheet-metaldrop-leaf having resilient depending peripheral flanges at theiradjacent sides, hinge means pivotally interconnecting said top and leafand so located with respect to the flanges that the latter interengagebefore the leaf, in upward swinging, attains coplanar re lationship withthe top, and releasable means for retaining the top and leaf in coplanarrelationship.

6. A drop-leaf table, comprising a table top, supporting legs therefor,a drop-leaf having a longitudinal leafstiffening sheet-metal memberthereunder parallel to the direction of table extension, hinge means forpivotally attaching said drop-leaf to said table, the material of saidlongitudinal member being formed at one end to provide an eyeconstituting part of said hinge means, a leg-supporting brace member forsupporting said leaf and formed to provide a finger which rides in anelongated longitudinal slot provided in said longitudinal member, saidlongitudinal member being formed to provide at the inner end of saidslot a laterally projecting slot-extension having an outer wall whichslopes outwardly and downwardly and constitutes abutment means againstwhich said bracemember finger may bear for holding said drop-leaf inhorizontal position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS188,414 Rohde Mar. 13, 1877 298,967 Goold May 20, 1884 2,131,594 MillerSept. 27, 1938 2,572,474 Hamilton Oct. 23, 1951 2,578,922 Cramer Dec.18, 1951 2,594,262 Howe Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 96,664 Sweden Aug.29, 1939

